(1) The Map of Water projects in New South Wales includes the Macquarie Water Security Scheme (Macquarie River Re-reg Storage):

(a) Does the Macquarie Water Security Scheme contain any additional infrastructure elements than the Macquarie River re-regulating storage project?

(b) Does the Macquarie Water Security Scheme include any pipelines?

(2) Has Water Infrastructure NSW secured funding for first phase of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Macquarie River Re-Regulating Storage Project or the Macquarie Water Security Scheme (the project)?

(a) What is the dollar figure of the funding for the first phase of the EIS for the project?

(b) What is the source of the funding for the first phase of the EIS for the project?

(c) What is the balance of the funding required to complete the EIS for the project?

(3) What was the Tributary Utilisation Rate for the Macquarie Regulated Water Source for the following water years:

(a) 2020/2021?

(b) 2019/2020?

(c) 2018/2019?

(d) 2017/2018?

(e) 2016/2017?

(f) 2015/2016?

(g) 2014/2015?

(h) 2013/2014?

(i) 2012/2013?

(j) 2011/2012?

(4) Has the Final Business Case for the Macquarie River Re-Regulating Storage Project or the Macquarie Water Security Scheme been completed?

(5) Does the case for change in the business case for Macquarie Water Security Scheme include a concise yet rigorous assessment of the impacts of increasing the reliability of water for general security water customers in the Macquarie regulated water source upstream of the project, on the following:

(a) The availability and quality of water for basic landholder rights, including First Nations right to access water downstream?

(b) The condition and the resilience of the Ramsar listed Macquarie Marshes?

(c) The volume of water available for connectivity events between the Macquarie and the Barwon Rivers?

(6) Does the Cost Benefit Analysis of the Macquarie Water Security Scheme include a concise yet rigorous assessment of the economic, social and environmental cost the project would have on:

(a) The irrigation industry in the unregulated Lower Macquarie water source?

(b) The recreational fishing industry?

(c) Loss of tourism and social amenity in the community of Warren?

(d) The grazing industry adjacent to the Macquarie Marshes?

(e) The increase in cost of water charges to compensate the annual repairs and maintenance budget of the project?

(7) Do any of the Cost Benefit Analysis scenarios included in the Final Business Case for the Macquarie Water Security Scheme incorporate the capture of water from all sources?

(8) Does the Financial Analysis in the Final Business Case of the Macquarie Water Security Scheme include the estimated annual cost of repairs and maintenance of the project?

(a) What is the estimated annual cost of repairs and maintenance of the project?

(9) Have the issues quoted below and raised by Dr Jim Bentley Chief Executive Officer – Water (Deputy Secretary), in his correspondence to Water NSW in February 2020 (BN 20/98 Macquarie mid system re-regulating storage and Lachlan Lake Rowlands to Carcoar business case project plans (Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund)) been fully addressed?

“The draft project plans and associated documents /do not currently demonstrate value for money and an efficient, effective and prudent use of public funds.”

“Both Treasury and Infrastructure NSW committee members were not satisfied with the budget and/or governance arrangements for the project.”