Water Plan (Georgina and Diamantina) 2004

Water is to be allocated and managed in a way that seeks to achieve a balance in the following outcomes—

to make water available to sustain current levels of, and to support growth in, economic activity in the plan area while recognising the social and cultural values of communities in the basins;

to achieve ecological outcomes consistent with maintaining the ecological integrity and natural function of in-stream, wetland and floodplain ecosystems, both in the plan area and downstream of the plan area in South Australia, including, for example, maintaining—

pool habitats, and native plants and animals associated with the habitats, in watercourses; and

the near pristine condition of the riverine habitats and associated native plants and animals in the basins; and

the natural abundance and species richness of native plants and animals associated with habitats within watercourses, riparian zones, floodplains and wetlands; and

active river-forming processes, including sediment transport; and

connections between waterholes, particularly at times of low flow;

to maintain, both in the plan area and downstream of the plan area in South Australia, water quality at levels that maintain the ecological integrity and natural function of in-stream and floodplain ecosystems and the viability of economic, social, cultural and other activities that do not threaten the integrity and function;

to promote a continual improvement in water use efficiency, both in the plan area generally and on individual properties;

to promote improved understanding of the matters affecting the health of riverine and associated systems in the basins;

consistency with the Lake Eyre Basin Agreement Act 2001.