While there have been serious disagreements over several aspects of the draft plan, water user groups remain in close negotiation with the NSW Office of Water.

NSW Water Minister Phillip Costa has called specifically for more input on the two most contentious issues: conditions relating to “tagged trading” of inactive licences and the calculation of the cap based on historical average water use.

Ian Coxhead and Lawrie Pengilly of the Peel Valley Water Users Association were in Sydney last week negotiating an alternative cap for water extraction.

Mr Coxhead told The Leader he felt fairly confident the department had taken their issues on board and was working through the proposed options.

“That has a good chance of increasing the groundwater cap, at least, and the department is considering the regulated surface water cap again.”

Mr Coxhead said the Minister’s notes attached to the draft indicated he was considering much of the Peel advisory group’s recommendations already.

“We need to be mindful that a lot of progress has been made,” he said.

“We do hope that submission and our negotiations realise improvements in what is, after all, a draft plan.”