The SA Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board has been formed to manage, protect and in some cases, restore the region’s precious natural resources.
In order to do this, the Board has brought together the former local Catchment Water Management, Soil Conservation and Animal & Plant Control Boards under the one umbrella to achieve a more integrated approach to the management of our soil, water, coastal and biodiversity assets.
What is Natural Resources Management?
Natural Resources Management, or NRM, is the term used to describe the management, protection and restoration of precious resources like soil, water, the marine environment, native plants and animals. The NRM Levy funds this vital work.
What is the NRM Levy?
The NRM Levy provides vital funding to help take care of our natural resources, such as water, soil, land, native plants and animals. The NRM levy is a new name for contributions ratepayers and licenced water users have been making for many years. Previously these payments were called Catchment Water Management and Animal and Plant Control contributions.
Is this a new levy?
It’s not a new levy. It’s a new name for contributions South Australian ratepayers and licenced water users have been making for many years through their Catchment Water Management Levies and Animal and Plant Control contributions through local councils. Animal and Plant Control Board contributions were not itemised separately on people’s rates notices, but paid on their behalf by Councils out of rates collected. That contribution is now itemised on your rates notice as the NRM Levy.
Why do I have to pay this levy?
Everyone who lives and works in the region has an impact on the environment. As such, we all share a responsibility to take care of our precious soil, water, landscapes, marine environments, native animals and plants and ecosystems. Your contribution through the NRM Levy will help to fund the work needed to protect and enhance our environment.
How is the Levy calculated?
There are 2 elements to the NRM Levy. One is known as the Division 1 Levy and is commonly referred to as the “land-based” levy. The other known as the Division 2 Levy and is commonly referred to as the “water-based” levy.
The Division 1 levy is collected through council rates, and are calculated on the capital value of your land. This approach equates to a rate of less than $0.065 per $1000 capital value of property.
The Division 2 levy is collected through the water licencing system administered by the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation and is based on licence water allocations. The levy rate charged per megalitre of allocation is outlined in the table below:
| |
Allocation (GL)
|
Rate
(Cents per kilolitre)
|
Quantum
|
|
05/06
|
06/07
|
07/08
|
05/06
|
06/07
|
07/08
|
|
SA Water
|
180
|
1.062
|
1.094
|
1.094
|
1,911,600
|
1,969,200
|
$1,969,200
|
|
River Murray
|
562
|
0.372
|
0.383
|
0.383
|
2,090,640
|
2,152,460
|
$2,152,460
|
|
Angas-Bremer
|
6.4
|
0.372
|
0.383
|
0.383
|
23,808
|
24,512
|
$24,512
|
|
Noora
|
-
|
0.372
|
0.383
|
0.383
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Mallee PWA
|
52.8
|
0.319
|
0.328
|
0.328
|
168,432
|
173,184
|
173,184
|
|
Qualco Sunlands
|
28
|
0.350
|
0.361
|
0.361
|
98,000
|
101,080
|
101,080
|
|
Marne/Saunders
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
TOTAL EXPECTED LEVY INCOME
|
4,292,480
|
4,420,436
|
4,420,436
|
Is this a one-off Levy or will I have to pay this every year?
The NRM Levy will be charged annually.
How will the Levy money be spent?
Levy funds can only be spent in accordance with the Board’s NRM Plan. The Board has in place an Initial Plan, which focuses on the goals and objectives previously contained in the Plans of the catchment water management, soil conservation and animal and plant control boards. The NRM Board is also working on a new NRM Plan, which will be prepared in consultation with the community, councils, Government agencies and industry.