Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2024C00557:schedule:1:p133
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2024C00557
Segment Type: schedule
Provision Reference: sch 1 (pt 133/154)
Character Range: 992560–995595

Environmental Objectives And Strategy For River Murray Increased Flows
       (1) The document entitled "The Living Murray Environmental Watering Plan 2006‑2007" approved by the former Ministerial Council under the former Agreement on 5 December 2006 is taken to be the Strategy referred to in this Schedule.
       (2) Subject to sub‑clauses (3) and (4), the Ministerial Council may from time to time by resolution amend the Strategy.
       (3) Any amended Strategy:
(a) must include a provision to the effect that River Murray Increased Flows have first priority from River Murray Above Target Releases;
(b) may provide that water credited to the River Murray Increased Flows in Authority Storages Account need not be released during the Water Year in which it is credited;
(c) unless the Ministerial Council otherwise determines, must not have a significant adverse impact upon the security of entitlements to water;
(d) must include the environmental objectives for the River Murray Increased Flows and integrate those objectives with other environmental initiatives on the River Murray;
(e) must include adaptive management principles to allow the ability to optimise environmental benefits; and
(f) must prescribe appropriate environmental reporting and monitoring conditions.
       (4) The Ministerial Council must determine any amended environmental objectives and Strategy in accordance with the following principles:
(a) Natural diversity of habitats and biota within the river channel, riparian zone and the floodplain should be maintained or enhanced.
(b) Natural linkages between the river and the floodplain should be maintained or enhanced.
(c) Natural metabolic functioning of aquatic ecosystems should be maintained or enhanced.
(d) Elements of the natural flow regime, in particular, seasonality should be retained or enhanced as far as possible, in the interests of conserving a niche for native rather than invasive exotic species and in maintaining the natural functions of the river.
(e) Consistent and constant flow and water level regimes should be avoided where practical, as this is contrary to the naturally variable flow regime of the River Murray.
(f) The general principles of ecosystem services should be recognised.
(g) Environmental benefit should be optimised.
       (5) As soon as practicable after the end of each Water Year, the Authority must report to the Contracting Governments on the environmental outcomes of the River Murray Increased Flows during that Water Year, in the light of the objectives determined by the Ministerial Council for those Increased Flows.

    21. Authority To Maintain River Murray Increased Flows Accounts
       (1) The continuous water accounts for the River Murray Increased Flows known as:
(a) the Initial River Murray Increased Flows Account; and
(b) the River Murray Increased Flows in Authority Storages Account,
        maintained under sub‑clause 21(1) of Schedule G of the former Agreement immediately prior to commencement of this Schedule are continued