Protected Special and Controlled Areas
Protecting Greater Sydney's drinking water supply.
Protecting Greater Sydney’s drinking water supply, the health of the catchment, and the environment
Prohibiting entry or restricting entry and activities to protect water quality in the Greater Sydney Drinking Water Catchment and WaterNSW’s water supply infrastructure.
Within the Greater Sydney Drinking Water Catchment, areas of land (including water storages) are declared under the Water NSW Act 2014 as ‘Special Areas’. Public entry and activities are prohibited or restricted in these areas to protect water quality.
Special Areas cover approximately 384,000 hectares of mostly unspoiled native bushland. Collaborative partnerships with local councils, Aboriginal land councils, landholders, government agencies, industry and the community are important to the management of these areas.
'Controlled Areas’, also as declared under the Water NSW Act 2014, are areas of land outside the Greater Sydney Drinking Water Catchment that are used for the Upper Canal and the Warragamba Pipelines water transfer structures. Public entry and activities are prohibited in these areas to protect WaterNSW’s water supply infrastructure.
The Special Areas and Controlled Areas are divided into two protection zones:
| No entry | Restricted entry |
|---|---|
|
|
Special Areas (364,000 ha)
- located immediately surrounding the water storages, and including the water storages
- are critical for the protection of water quality and quantity and play an important role in the conservation of many threatened plant and animal species as well as other significant natural and cultural values
- are jointly managed by WaterNSW and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) guided by the Special Areas Strategic Plan of Management (SASPoM)
- NPWS owns approximately 67% of the Special Areas
- regardless of tenure, entry and all activities within Special Areas are subject to the Water NSW Act 2014 and Water NSW Regulation 2020, administered by WaterNSW
- approximately 14% of the Special Areas are lands occupied by public roads, towns, villages and private agricultural land. Special Area access restrictions do not apply to these lands
Controlled Areas (550 ha)
- located immediately surrounding WaterNSW’s Upper Canal and Warragamba Pipelines water transfer structures, and including the Upper Canal and Warragamba Pipelines. Entry and activities are managed by WaterNSW based on the WaterNSW Act 2014 and Water NSW Regulation 2020.
Braidwood Lands (23,000 ha)
- managed via a mix of leases and direct land management by WaterNSW. These lands are not Special or Controlled Areas however WaterNSW approval is still required for entry and all activities in these areas.
Special Areas
Where are they?
The Special Areas, as declared under the WaterNSW Act 2014, are located at:
- Blackheath, Katoomba and Woodford (generally referred to as the Blue Mountains Special Areas)
- Warragamba
- Prospect
- Metropolitan
- Woronora
- Wingecarribee
- Fitzroy Falls
- Shoalhaven
Special Areas are comprised of Schedule 1 land and Schedule 2 land, which provide two levels of restrictions (except on private land):
- Schedule 1 land – No Entry (red fill)
- Schedule 2 land – Restricted Entry (yellow fill)
- View Map here Special Areas Map
WaterNSW provides visitation opportunities in picnic and recreation areas on Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 lands.
WaterNSW’s Regulatory Role and Compliance
Activities occurring in Special and Controlled Areas are regulated by the Water NSW Act 2014 and Water NSW Regulation 2020 to protect water quality and WaterNSW assets. This includes prohibiting or regulating activities by signage.
Regulatory action under the Water NSW Act 2014 or Water NSW Regulation 2020 can be taken including for (but not limited to) the following offences:
- entering or carrying out activities in a Special or Controlled Area without Water NSW Consent (unauthorised activities)
- not complying with Water NSW Consent conditions
- not following a direction of an Authorised Officer
- acting in contravention of a sign
For the protection of water quality within the Greater Sydney Drinking Water Catchment, Water NSW may also take regulatory action under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 for water pollution or illegal dumping.
Regulatory action can include compelling the provision of specific information, issuing various notices including penalty infringement notices, or commencing prosecution. Compliance with these Acts and regulations apply to individuals and companies with fines up to $22,000 for individuals and $44,000 for corporations if found to be in breach.
Who manages Special Areas?
WaterNSW and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) jointly manage the Special Areas. WaterNSW has responsibility for the quality and quantity of water in catchment areas. NPWS is the primary conservation agency in NSW and is the landowner of reserves within some of the Special Areas.
The Greater Sydney Drinking Water Catchment map highlighting Special Areas and including Controlled Areas.
If you require entry to carry out activities in a Special Area or Controlled Area, or on WaterNSW freehold land within the Greater Sydney Drinking Water Catchment, you need to apply to WaterNSW for written consent or approval. Only a limited number of people or organisations are granted consent or approval under strict conditions.
Application for Consent for conduct in a Special Area or Controlled Area
WaterNSW will only grant consent to enter and carry out activities in a Special Area or Controlled Area for individuals, companies or groups who can show that the proposed activity meets ALL the WaterNSW standard assessment criteria listed below. WaterNSW applies these same criteria when assessing applications for access to other WaterNSW freehold land, including the Braidwood Lands, within the Greater Sydney Drinking Water Catchment.
WaterNSW Standard Assessment Criteria
- It is for an activity that cannot be carried out elsewhere.
- It is for an activity or purpose that will benefit the management of the Special Areas and Controlled Areas, or provide a broader public benefit.
- It will not compromise the integrity, operation or management of any WaterNSW infrastructure or catchment areas.
- The activity will not:
a) lower the quantity of water in the water storages or catchments, and
b) lower the quality of surface and groundwater inflows to water storages or catchments, and
c) have a negative impact on the ecological integrity of the Special Areas.
Applicants must identify which of the permitted categories (PDF, 1009.89 KB) the Consent Application falls within, and supply any additional information listed under that category.
Standard Information for Consent Applications: Conduct within Special Areas or Controlled Areas
- Standard Information for Consent Applications: Conduct within Special Areas or Controlled Areas
Applying to enter to carry out specific activities
WaterNSW may take up to 28 business days after receiving an application to make a determination. You must allow for this time when choosing the date of first entry on the application form.
If an application is incomplete or more information is required, the assessment period restarts upon receipt of the additional information. If the required information is not supplied within 28 business days of the request, the application may be refused.
After processing the application
WaterNSW will advise you of the determination of your application in writing. If consent is granted, you will receive a letter and you (and any other person who is permitted to enter under the consent) must comply with the list of conditions outlined in the letter.
If WaterNSW grants consent, you will be required to:
- Complete an online induction specific to the area to be entered (valid for one year)
- For Special Areas and other WaterNSW land in the Greater Sydney Drinking Water Catchment:
- Subscribe to the Special Areas Notifications email list to enable provision of Special Area notifications such as closures and fire danger ratings
- Notify WaterNSW at least three days prior to entry using the WaterNSW Notice of Intent to Enter Form (provided with the consent letter)
- For Controlled Areas:
- Notify WaterNSW by telephone upon entry to and exit from the Controlled Area
A key to the area may be issued by a nominated WaterNSW principal contact. WaterNSW requires at least ten business days to arrange key handover.
Not complying with any condition of consent may be an offence under the Water NSW Act 2014 or Water NSW Regulation 2020. Depending on the breach, there may also be an offence under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. WaterNSW will consider any non-compliance with consent conditions seriously and may take regulatory action to address the breach.
Water NSW advises that there are surveillance cameras in various locations that monitor activities within Special and Controlled Areas.
If WaterNSW does not approve your application, you will receive a letter advising that your application is unsuccessful and entry is refused.
WaterNSW acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and pay our respects to all elders past, present and emerging. Learn more