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MARCH 2020 | ISSUE #14

COVID-19 and stakeholder engagement

As you are aware, the NSW Government is acting to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to support industry, business and the community.

At the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, our priority is to ensure the safety of the public and our staff while continuing to deliver services and projects with minimal disruption.

Our focus on delivering excellent services to the NSW community remains unchanged.

We will conduct any planned face-to-face engagement online or remotely where possible. Please check our website for the latest updates on stakeholder engagement.

We will follow the advice of NSW Health and be proactive in protecting the community and our workforce. If the need arises, this may mean changing our procedures and processes. We will keep you informed of any such changes as they impact our services.

We hope that you and your communities are coping during this difficult time. Let us know how you'd like to engage with the department. Please send any feedback to the Water Relations team at water.relations@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

Drought update

2_Drone Main Weir Menindee March 2020-401

While there has been some welcome rainfall across NSW and small improvements in water storage levels across inland NSW, the drought has not broken. The state needs more rainfall and runoff before the major inland valleys can be assured of a general security allocation at the start of the next water year (1 July 2020). There has been some easing of restrictions of the suspended carryover water in the Border Rivers and Upper and Lower Namoi Valleys.

Restrictions on river and overland flows have also been lifted across the NSW northern basin. As a result of these restrictions, town water supplies and drought refuge pools have been replenished across most of the northern NSW basin.

Flows are now entering the Menindee Lakes system, with around 300 gigalitres expected to enter the lakes. Releases from Menindee Lakes to downstream water users will provide a flow along the full length of the Lower Darling River and provide much-needed water to landholders and fish habitat along the river.

For more information see our drought update webpage.

Minister Pavey visits Lower Darling communities

3_Darling River at Burtundy Rocks 18th March 2020-51

Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey visited communities along the Lower Darling in March. Her tour included Burtundy, Pooncarie, Karoola and the Menindee Lakes flow at Weir 32.

Minister Pavey gained firsthand insight into the important issues for the community, including water sharing, connectivity, and the Menindee Lakes Project. The Minister reassured the community that they would play a vital role in reshaping the Menindee Lakes Project.

The Menindee Lakes Project aims to maximise water savings while protecting the ecological, cultural heritage and socio-economic values in the Menindee Lakes, Lower Darling and Great Darling Anabranch.

Read more about the Menindee Lakes Project.

Water arrives in the Menindee Lakes

In March, the Menindee Lakes got its first major river flow since 2016. The Menindee Lakes is a chain of seven natural shallow lakes connected to the Darling River.

Heavy rainfall in February allowed water flows to make their way down the Barwon–Darling river system to Lake Wetherell and Lake Tandure. The inflows of between 275–340 gigalitres provide more than 12 months of town water supply for the Lower Darling.

Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said ‘The volume and extent of the flow generated by rain—and not dam releases—is by far the best naturally occurring flow in the Barwon–Darling since the floods of 2016.’

‘It’s a relief to see this water replenishing parts of the state as we continue to endure severe drought conditions across regional NSW.’

The department intends to lift the temporary water restriction on water access along the Lower Darling River, which has been in place since December 2018 under section 324 of the Water Management Act 2000. This will allow access to remaining water in high security and general security accounts, but will not affect the ability to supply water for critical needs.

Read more updates on the Menindee Lakes/Lower Darling River.

Water regulator audits Barwon-Darling water users

The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) launched Operation Yadhala Mil in September 2019 to make sure that water licence and approval holders understand their rights and responsibilities.

In phase one of the operation, 21 properties from Bourke to Mungindi were audited. NRAR’s officers checked that pumps were metered, out-of-use water supply works had been decommissioned, and logbooks had been kept up to date.

Officers were pleased with the overall rate of compliance with meters on pumps. However, only three properties were fully compliant; the other 18 had some administrative non-compliances with low environmental harm.

Director of Regional Water Regulation (West-Murray Darling) Graeme White said he hoped the word had spread about recent visits.

‘When we do an audit rather than an investigation, it’s more about education and bringing water users into line with water laws voluntarily,’ Graeme White said. ‘However, when we follow up on an earlier audit, if the recommendations in our report have not been implemented, our officers may take action against the water user.’

‘The onus is on water users to ensure they have all relevant licences and approvals for their water take, and that they are familiar with the rules and conditions on them. Don’t wait until NRAR officers show up at your gate to find out if you are compliant with water laws.’

Phase two of the operation is scheduled for later this year. NRAR will follow up with non-compliant properties and audit several more properties in the Barwon–Darling area.

For more information visit NRAR’s website.

Characterising rivers in the NSW River Styles Database

Over the last 20 years, the department has been working with Macquarie University to develop the NSW River Styles Database. The database uses the River Styles Framework* to consistently define river character and behaviour. The framework is widely used in Australia and internationally to categorise river types.

More than 219,000 km of river reaches across NSW have been assessed using the River Styles Framework, with the information captured by the NSW River Styles database. This information helps us to describe river types, assess their physical condition and determine whether a degraded river is likely to recover or worsen. It also assists us to identify rare and threatened river forms across NSW that may require protection.

The framework and database are valuable tools that help us to predict the future behaviour of rivers, and develop sustainable ways of managing them for ecosystems and other water users.

The NSW Government proudly supported and worked with Macquarie University to co-develop and deliver this project through a partnership.

Find out more at the River Styles website and our River Styles fact sheet on the database.

*Macquarie University is the developer of the River Styles Framework. It is supported by the NSW Government.

Groundwater and drought fact sheet

We’ve added more information to our groundwater webpage. Check the links below for:

The new ‘information for groundwater users during drought’ section
Groundwater and drought fact sheet

Become a water warrior

We need water warriors in every community, saving every drop we can. NSW is still in drought and each drop of water counts. There are small things you can do to make a big difference in water conservation.

To find out how you can help, read our water-saving tips and download our toolkits.

Latest water news from the department

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Contact

Water News is our monthly update on water planning, management and reform in NSW. If you have any questions or feedback contact us at:

NSW Government – Water Relations
Phone +61 2 9338 6600
water.relations@dpi.nsw.gov.au

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