Menindee drop-in session on managing water quality

The NSW Government is hosting drop-in sessions in Menindee to keep the community updated and informed as part of the ongoing response to managing water quality and fish health along the Darling-Baaka River.

Minister for Water Rose Jackson said representatives from state and commonwealth agencies will be in town this week to meet locals, respond to their questions and provide information in person.

“Dissolved oxygen levels in the river have stabilised in the past few months thanks to our active management of critical water releases from Lake Pamamaroo and the cooler conditions, but the reality is we are far from being out of the woods,” Ms Jackson said.

“There are still huge numbers of fish below Weir 32 - particularly the Bony Bream that boomed during last year’s floods - which are competing for limited resources and, as the weather warms up, this will put even more pressure on the system, increasing the risk of more fish deaths which we obviously don’t want to see.

“The delicate balance between continuing our releases from the top lakes to maintain water quality and preserving water long term for precious town supply during the next drought is difficult to strike. That's why it’s essential the community is kept closely informed every step of the way.”

There will be a meeting with community representatives including the Barkindji Native Title Board and Menindee Local Aboriginal Land Council on 12 September.

The community drop-in session will be held on 13 September at the Civic Hall from 9:30am to 4:30pm and continuing on 14 September from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

The meetings will also provide an opportunity for an open discussion about the findings of the Independent Review by the Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE) released last week into the mass fish death event near Menindee in March.

“We know that was a hugely distressing time for locals which is why we’re taking the Chief Scientist’s report very seriously, carefully considering the recommendations and continuing work already underway to address gaps in the system,” Ms Jackson said.

“This includes upgrading water quality monitoring and improving river connectivity through actions identified in the Western Regional Water Strategy, new water sharing plans and establishing an Expert Panel on Barwon-Darling Connectivity.

“These sessions will be a great opportunity to exchange knowledge in a casual setting, especially as we head towards this critical juncture in our response to water quality issues, so we really encourage everyone to come along.”

Read the Executive Summary of the OCSE report.