TEMPORARY water restrictions are now in effect for certain types of licences along the Barwon-Darling River and northern tributaries as active storage volume in the upper Menindee Lakes has reached 250 gigalitres.

This is a decisive step to ensure the state’s precious water sources are managed fairly and sustainably, to protect water for critical human and environmental needs amid ongoing dry conditions.

The measures, enacted under Section 324 of the Water Management Act 2000, restrict the following licences.

NSW DCCEEW director of planning implementation, Allan Raine, said there isn’t an infinite amount of water in the system.

“I want to be very clear that the implementation of Section 324 water restrictions is a decision the NSW Government has not made lightly,” Mr Raine said.

“We must manage the water carefully and equitably for towns, businesses, Aboriginal groups and the environment.

“In circumstances like this we have to make tough decisions and these temporary water restrictions are vital to help us meet critical human and environmental needs, minimise damage to ecosystems during drought and enable them to recover faster.”

Barwon Darling: B and C Class licenses

Northern Murray-Darling Basin regulated river valleys floodplain harvesting, and supplementary licences and certain unregulated river access licences in the Gwydir and Macquarie valleys, that link the regulated systems to the Barwon Darling.

These restrictions do not apply to town water supplies, basic landholder rights, or stock and domestic licences.

The temporary restrictions provide vital protection by reducing the risk of critical water shortages that can severely damage water-dependent environments and, in extreme cases, cause the failure of surface water supply for towns and landholders.

The 250 GL active storage trigger that guided the decision to implement Section 324 water restrictions is a result of continued dry conditions with minimum rain and flows expected.

Under current operations and if dry conditions continue, there is less than 12 months’ water supply in the upper Menindee Lakes to meet critical human and environmental needs downstream.

The NSW Government will review the restrictions during and after every natural flow event to ensure they do not continue any longer than necessary.

For more information, visit Temporary Water Restrictions.