The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) has banned in-river dams within the Ourimbah Creek and Jilliby Jilliby Creek water sources.
Executive Director, Policy, Planning and Sciences, Emma Solomon, said the ban would apply to all approvals for a dam within a third order or higher stream within these catchments.
“The temporary embargo applies from November 20 and will last for up to two years or until the water sharing plan for the Central Coast Unregulated Water Sources 2009 is replaced, which is expected to be July 1, 2021,” Solomon said.
“A risk assessment recently completed by the DPIE identified that Jilliby Jilliby Creek and Ourimbah Creek water sources have very high environmental values that are at high risk from extraction in these catchments.
“This prohibition exists in the other surface water sources within the Central Coast area and this ban brings Jilliby Jilliby Creek and Ourimbah Creek in line with these other water sources.”
The permanency of this restriction will be discussed during the public exhibition phase of the replacement Central Coast Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sharing Plan, with is scheduled to commence on November 30.
Source:
Media release, Nov 20
NSW Department Planning, Industry, Environment