Great Artesian Basin public meetings in Moree, Walgett & Bourke

The community are invited to public consultation meetings on the Great Artesian Basin Strategic Management Plan 2018 next week in Moree, Walgett and Bourke to have their say.

The Moree meeting will take place at 10.30am on Tuesday 11 September at the Moree Services Club, 3 Albert Street, Moree. 

The Walgett meeting will take place at 10am, Wednesday 12 September at the Walgett RSL Club, 71 Fox Street, Walgett.

The Bourke meeting will take place at 10am, Thursday 13 September at Diggers on the Darling, 23 Sturt Street, Bourke.

Executive Director Water, Rachel Connell, is urging farmers, landholders, industry groups and the community to comment on the draft plan before the public exhibition period finishes on the 5 October 2018.

“All feedback will be considered in the finalisation of the plan so it is important to visit the exhibition and have your say. The new plan will be implemented over a 15-year period and sets the future vision for the Great Artesian Basin.

“The draft was developed by the Australian, state and territory governments in consultation with the Great Artesian Basin Coordinating Committee who represents communities, landholders, water users and the various industries operating in the Basin.

“The plan includes principles for managing the Great Artesian Basin to achieve economic, environmental, cultural and social outcomes, especially important during drought.

“It has coordinated governance to maintain the health of the basin, support for Indigenous cultural values, secure and managed access, judicious use of groundwater, information and knowledge management, as well as user education of a resource that is the lifeblood of western NSW,”  Ms Connell said.

To register for a session, see a copy of the draft plan, and make a submission visit the Department of Industry website here.