Southern floodplain management plans

The department is transitioning floodplain management plans from the Water Act 1912 to the Water Management Act 2000. This means existing localised plans in the southern Murray–Darling Basin will be replaced in accordance with the Water Management Act 2000. This has already occurred in the northern Murray–Darling Basin.

Floodplain management plans are based on technical advice from a wide range of government departments and community groups representing agricultural, environmental, First Nations, fisheries and other water interests.

Replacement plans will consider:

• recommendations from audit and review reports
• the existing planning arrangements in existing localised Water Act 1912 plans
• the principles for water management specified in the Water Management Act 2000
• updated flooding and landscape information
• feedback from community consultation.

Information sessions were held in Jerilderie, Deniliquin, Moama, Barham, Forbes, Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo, Hillston, Narrandera, Darlington Point, Hay and Moulamein from 14-28 June 2023. Read the Rural floodplain management plans in the southern Murray–Darling Basin - What we heard report.

Proposed replacement plans: For more information about the proposed replacement plans, download Replacement floodplain management plans for the Southern Murray-Darling Basin.

Transition to the new Water Management Act: For more information about the transition of floodplain management planning from the Water Act 1912 to the Water Management Act 2000 in NSW, download Floodplain management under the Water Management Act 2000: A guide to the changes.

Existing approvals granted under the Water Act 1912 (now converted to flood work approvals under the Water Management Act 2000) will continue to be valid. However, there are changes to the process for landholders making an application for flood work approvals in the future or amending existing approvals.

How existing plans will be replaced

The southern Murray-Darling Basin had 10 localised floodplain management plans developed under the Water Act 1912 and 2 declared floodplains. The replacement of these plans under the Water Management Act 2000 is based on a whole-of-valley approach and will include the declaration of floodplains that match the new plan areas:

• The Lachlan River Valley has 3 localised plans and one declared floodplain which will be replaced with a single floodplain management plan and associated declared floodplain.
• The Murray River Valley had 5 localised plans which were replaced with a single floodplain management plan and associated declared floodplain. The NSW Murray Valley Floodplain Management Plan commenced on 1 July 2026.
• The Murrumbidgee River Valley had 2 localised plans and one declared floodplain were replaced with 2 floodplain management plans and associated declared floodplains. The Murrumbidgee Valley Floodplain Management Plan commenced on 1 July 2025 and the Billabong Creek Floodplain Management Plan commenced on 1 July 2026.
   

Existing localised floodplain management plans