New South Wales Consolidated Regulations New South Wales Consolidated RegulationsWhen this Part applies, the following must be taken into account--
* The waterway and much of the foreshore of the River Murray is a public resource. Alienation or obstruction of this resource by or for private purposes should not be supported.* Development along the main channel of the River Murray should be for public purposes. Moorings in the main channel should be for the purposes of short stay occupation only.* Human and stock access to the River Murray should be managed to minimise the adverse impacts of uncontrolled access on the stability of the bank and vegetation growth.
* Disturbance to the shape of the bank and riparian vegetation should be kept to a minimum in any development of riverfront land.
* Where land is subject to inundation by floodwater--(a) the benefits to riverine ecosystems of periodic flooding,(b) the hazard risks involved in developing that land,(c) the redistributive effect of the proposed development on floodwater,(d) the availability of other suitable land in the locality not liable to flooding,(e) the availability of flood free access for essential facilities and services,(f) the pollution threat represented by any development in the event of a flood,(g) the cumulative effect of the proposed development on the behaviour of floodwater, and(h) the cost of providing emergency services and replacing infrastructure in the event of a flood.* Flood mitigation works constructed to protect new urban development should be designed and maintained to meet the technical specifications of the Department of Water Resources.
* Development should seek to avoid land degradation processes such as erosion, native vegetation decline, pollution of ground or surface water, groundwater accession, salination and soil acidity, and adverse effects on the quality of terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
* Measures should be taken to protect and enhance the riverine landscape by maintaining native vegetation along the riverbank and adjacent land, rehabilitating degraded sites and stabilising and revegetating riverbanks with appropriate species.
* Only development which has a demonstrated, essential relationship with the river Murray should be located in or on land adjacent to the River Murray. Other development should be set well back from the bank of the River Murray.* Development which would intensify the use of riverside land should provide public access to the foreshore.
* New or expanding settlements (including rural-residential subdivision, tourism and recreational development) should be located--(a) on flood free land,(b) close to existing services and facilities, and(c) on land that does not compromise the potential of prime crop and pasture land to produce food or fibre.
* All decisions affecting the use or management of riverine land should seek to reduce pollution caused by salts and nutrients entering the River Murray and otherwise improve the quality of water in the River Murray.
* Wetlands are a natural resource which have ecological, recreational, economic, flood storage and nutrient and pollutant filtering values.
Land use and management decisions affecting wetlands should--(a) provide for a hydrological regime appropriate for the maintenance or restoration of the productive capacity of the wetland,(b) consider the potential impact of surrounding land uses and incorporate measures such as a vegetated buffer which mitigate against any adverse effects,(c) control human and animal access, and(d) conserve native plants and animals.
Note : The above principles will also be relevant for determining authorities when they carry out their environmental assessment functions under Part 5 of the Act for activities which may impact on the River Murray.