5.1 Scope and Background

5.1.1 Scope

• Water Management Zones* and Sub-zones* and Values - the establishment of Water Management Zones* and Sub-zones* and associated water management Values for each Sub-zone*, for the purpose of managing water quality, water quantity and activities in the beds of rivers and lakes.
• Surface water quality - the establishment of water quality targets* for rivers and lakes, in order to give effect to the Values, together with a policy regime of maintaining water quality in those Water Management Sub-zones* that meet their water quality targets*, and improving water quality over time in those Water Management Sub-zones* that do not.
• Groundwater quality - the maintenance of existing groundwater quality and its improvement where it is degraded.
• Discharges and land use activities affecting water quality - the management of discharges into surface water, discharges onto or into land, and diffuse run-off and other land use activities affecting surface water and groundwater quality.
• Surface water quantity and allocation - the establishment of minimum flows and allocation regimes for rivers, and the management of water takes and other activities affecting surface water quantity.
• Groundwater quantity and allocation, and bores* - the establishment of Groundwater Management Zones*, identification of the respective allocable volumes and the active management of groundwater takes.
• Beds of rivers and lakes - the management of activities that disturb the beds of rivers and lakes, the management of existing and new structures in the beds of rivers and lakes, and the establishment of sustainable gravel extraction limits for rivers.
• Land adjacent to the beds of rivers and lakes - the management of some activities in relation to flood control or drainage purposes.