In April each year, the Board will make a public call for expressions of interest for environmental water donations. Once accredited projects have been identified for a water year, they will be matched with environmental water (including water donations) and available funding.
If the Board receives registrations of interest for water donation volumes greater than those nominated in the Annual Watering Plan, water will be allocated to accredited projects on a first in first used basis.
In November 2005, Regulations to the NRM Act 2004 were introduced to waive transfer fees and establishment fees for environmental donations licences. Where some or all of an allocation is donated during the water use year (or prior) to an accredited environmental project, the donor will be entitled to a refund of part or all of the River Murray levy paid in relation to that water. More details are provided in the companion brochure ‘Environmental Flows for the River Murray’.
If a water donation is not accepted by the Board because projects are fully subscribed, the donor will not be eligible for a levy refund, but expressions of interest will be publicly recognised.
Refunds on the water levy will occur from the time that the water is accepted and assigned to a project for use. This means that if a water donation is nominated in May but doesn’t get used until November, the donor will still receive 100% refund on the levy for the water used.
The Board is currently working with the Department of Water, Land and Biodiveristy Conservation to establish efficient and effective licensing processes to facilitate the donations of water to projects. This will be supported by the establishment of accounting and communication mechanisms to ensure that donors are provided with recognition and that the use of environmental donations is transparent and accountable.