89EBBEA61FBAEA60E050CD9B21440C9BEnglishData Requests OfficerDepartment of Environment, Parks and Water SecurityGeospatial Services Branch (on behalf of department)datarequests.depws@nt.gov.au2023-12-19AS/NZS ISO 19115 Geographic Information - Metadata, ANZLIC Metadata Profile1.0 Water Allocation Plans in the Northern Territory2019-05-282023-06-09A water allocation plan (WAP) is a legal document that sets out the rules for managing the take and use of water resources to ensure resource sustainability. It is developed with the community, industry and key stakeholders for each water resource identified as being significant.
A WAP ensures that the needs of the environment are taken into account when determining how much water is made available for consumptive purposes (licensed and non-licensed). It sets the amount of water that will be available, how that water may be allocated to users, and the types of activities that are permitted with that water.
Once a WAP is in place, water users can apply for a licence, transfer water between users and a range of other activities subject to the rules and limits of the WAP.
WAP aim to protect the environment and equitably share the available water between users, to ensure the long term sustainability of the water resource. Plans are developed in regions where there are competing demands for water, there is risk from water use on significant environmental or cultural values, or a need to manage the whole system (surface water and groundwater reserves) due to their significant inter-connection.
WAP detail the area and water resource to which the plan applies, as well as the vision, objectives, strategies and performance indicators of the plan. A WAP includes the following:
- A description of the water resource and its characteristics;
- Rationale about the need for the plan, its legal basis and effect;
- Clear purpose, objectives, outcomes, strategies and performance indicators;
- Explanation of historic, current and projected demand on the water resources;
- Sustainable yield and allocation of water to Beneficial Uses;
- A description of the risks and uncertainties;
- Rules for management of licences and permits; and
- Monitoring and reporting arrangements.
Developing the draft WAP can take several years. Draft WAP are released for public comment and submissions before being finalised and implemented. A finalised WAP applies for up to 10 years and is reviewed at least every five years. The review process provides an opportunity to assess progress and fine tune the WAP based on new information gained through its monitoring program. The Water Act allows for the declaration of WAPs within Water Control Districts (WCDs), ensuring water is equitably managed to preserve quality of life and the integrity of the water dependent ecosystems in the region.
WAPs are being developed on a priority basis in areas where there are competing demands for human consumptive needs and/or where natural aquatic ecosystems have significant ecological or social values.
Water Allocation Plans - DECLARED
- Alice Springs Water Allocation Plan 2016 - 2026
- Katherine Tindall Limestone Aquifer Water Allocation Plan 2019 - 2024
- Berry Springs Water Allocation Plan 2016 - 2026
- Oolloo Dolostone Aquifer Water Allocation Plan 2019 - 2029
- Ti Tree Water Allocation Plan 2020 - 2030
- Georgina Wiso Water Allocation Plan 2023 - 2031
Water Allocation Plans - DRAFT
- Western Davenport Water Allocation Plan 2023 - 2033
Water Allocation Plans - IN PROGRESS
Mataranka Tindall Aquifer Water Allocation Plan 2023 - 2033
Adelaide River Catchment Water Allocation Plan
HowardDownload the spatial data package (contains spatial data, maps and reports) via https://data.nt.gov.au/
You are licensed to use the DEPWS geospatial products on the terms and conditions set out in: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC BY 4.0) at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
If you do not agree to the terms and conditions you must not use the geospatial products.
You are free to copy, communicate and adapt the licensed material, provided that you abide by the licence terms (including Attribution) and attribute the licensed material using the statement:
Supplied by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Copyright Northern Territory Government.English-26-101291382000-01-142023-12-19datasetnot knownComplete0not knownAll polygons are closed and labelled using the prescribed data dictionary.0not knownData stored in geographic coordinates using horizontal datum GDA940not knownAll polygons attributed using the data dictionary as described below.0The boundary extent for each of Water Allocation Plan were created using a range of GIS software with reference to cadastral boundaries, topographic, hydrogeological, surface water and/or catchment datasets. The details of each boundaries are described on each water allocation government gazettes.