Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2004A01133:schedule:2:p13
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2004A01133
Segment Type: schedule
Provision Reference: sch 2 (pt 13/15)
Character Range: 40002–43659

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.

          (3)                The Ministerial Council must determine the 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.

          (4)                The Ministerial Council may from time to time by resolution amend the environmental objectives and the Strategy.

          (5)                As soon as practicable after the end of each Water Year, the Commission 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.                Commission To Maintain River Murray Increased Flows Accounts

          (1)                The Commission must maintain continuous water accounts of the River Murray Increased Flows to be known as:

             (a)                the Initial River Murray Increased Flows Account; and

             (b)                the River Murray Increased Flows in Commission Storages Account.

          (2)                The Commission must:

             (a)                credit the Initial River Murray Increased Flows Account with the River Murray Annual Allocation notified by New South Wales;

             (b)                transfer from the Initial River Murray Increased Flows Account to the River Murray Increased Flows in Commission Storages Account, River Murray Above Target Releases allocated to the River Murray Increased Flows in accordance with the Strategy;

             (c)                record in the River Murray Increased Flows in Commission Storages Account the transfer of water in that account between Commission storages; and

             (d)                record in the River Murray Increased Flows in Commission Storages Account the release of River Murray Increased Flows from Commission storages.

          (3)                The River Murray Increased Flows Accounts must be independently audited unless the Commission by resolution declares otherwise.

          (4)                As soon as practicable after the completion of each audit, the Commission must send a copy of the audited River Murray Increased Flows Accounts to the Contracting Governments.

       22.                Implementing the Strategy

The Commission must